The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-12
NO NAIL-DRIVING TODAY
The Journeymen Carpenters Decide to
Inaugurate a Strike This Morning.
The Contractors Refuse to Do More than Re.
peat Their Original Proposition-What
Was Said at Last Nights Meetings.

penters aud the bosses eliminated last night in
the journeymen voting to go a strike for nine
hours and 10 per cent increase over last years
wages. About one hundred journeymen were
present at the meeting in the Circuit Court
room and they voted unanimously to refuse to go
to work this morning ana remain out until their
demands are granted. There are between 900
and 1000 journeymen. and everyone of them
not working for who have granted what is
asked will be expected to remain away from
their work this morning. great many of the
men, if not the majority, satisfied, and there
is some doubt about them quitting work for the
purpose of beuefiting their brethren, who allege
they have not been justly dealt with.
The trouble between the men and the bosses
began two months ago, when the men met and
decided that nine hours should constitute days
work and 10 per cent advance over the amount
paid last year in wages. The proposition was
sent to the carpenters section of the Builders
Exchange. who discussed it in several meetings.
It was finally agreed to not accede to it, and the
following proposition was sent to the journey
men:
We, the carpenters section Of the Builders
Exchange. agree that we will work ten hours,
and will pay the following scale of prices: For
best men, % cents per hour; tor second best. III
cents, and for inferior workmen. 20 ard III
cents, we to be the judges of a mans skill.
The journeymen received and considered the
proposition, but declined to accept it, and there
the matter rested. The seasons work began.
and a few contractors commenced paying their
men an increase requiring them to work only
nine hours, but the planning mill men and ma
jority of the bosses continued to work ten hours.
fQrf na fhauc tod hat hair on
desired few firms agreed to allow their men
to vote on the question of hours, and. without
single exception, all voted for the ten-hour sys
tenn.
became disconnected. and, as a result the meet
ing Of last Friday night was held, which in
structed all the carpenters in the city to make
the demand for the increase on Saturday even
ing. The demand was made and, foreseeing
what was coming, the bosses also met at the
Builders Exchange last night
William Wilmington presided over the jour
neymen's meeting. and David Huey acted as
secretary. Mr.. Wilmington stated the object
of the meeting briefly, and said the matter had
first originated with the Mechanics Assembly
and that the carpenters had the sympathy and
support of all the men in the different building
trades in the city. The reports of the confer
ences with the bosses were submitted. Shower
q Christian. it was stated, had raised their
mems pay 10 per cent, but were still working
ten hours per day Spielhoff was working nine
the majority Of the contractors of the city paid
Thomas Steward had reported that he wanted
no strike, and would pay the increase whenever
all other contractors agreed to do the same.
The Capital City Planning mills had raised the
wages OF few of their men. but
fused to grant an increase all around, and were
not favoraby impressed with paying some of
their men any more than they now receive.
The Carpenters Union thought the men should
be satisfied with the present prices, but if the
| remainder OF the contractors would grant the
| increase they would do The Beehive plan
| ing mill didn't think they could raise wages at
present and were decidedly opposed to having
organization dictate what they should pay
their men. They were willing to talk to their
men personally. out would not listen to
ganization OF any kind. There were quite
number of similar reports submitted after
which Mr.. Hucherson moved that as the carpen-
ters' section Of the exchange was in session g.
committee of four be appointed to wait upon
them and ascertain what action they proposed
to take in the matter. The resolution
adopted, and Messrs. Spreckeson. Rafey Fran
bach and Oakley were constituted the committee.
and went at once to the contractors meeting
When the committee reached the exchange
the contractors were talking among themselves
about the trouble they were having with their
men, and were about to take vote as to whether
they should work their employees nine ten
hours Mr. William Jungclaus occupied the
chair; and when the iourneymens committee
appeared, ne granted them the privilege of
making statement Mr.. Spreckelson chair
the journeymen were dissatisfied with the wages
and time and desired from the exchange a state
ment of their intentions with regard to grant
ing the nine hour day and the 10 per cent. in
crease.
Peter Router, speaking in behalf of the ex-
change, said that the contractors thought that
the differences had beer settled once The
Bosses he said, had agreed upon scale of prices,
and IL was their understanding that the journey
men had accepted it. AT any rate, they had
never been notified to the contrary. He was in
favor OF standing by what they had already done.
At the suggestion of the chairman the committee
withdrew for half an hour to give the contract
ors time to prepare answer for the journey
men. The contractors agreed that all they
would do was to stand by their first proposition.
In the discussion of the question it developed
that some men were paying much more than
Others and it was agreed that there should be a
uniform scale of prices. The following resolu
ton was finally adopted, with but one dssentn e
vote. that of Mr.. Spiehoff
Resolved That we will stand by the first PROPOSE
ton made by to the journeymen carpenters. and
accepted by them, which follows To work ten
and 22ls 20 and 17ls cents for inferior workn en-,
according to grade.
| The resolution was signed by VIM. P Jung
claus, president of the meeting, and was placed
| in the hands of the iourneymen committee as
the final determination Of the contractors
| While the contractors were considering what
they should do. the journeymens meeting took
recess and was called to order when the COM
|
only half finished the reading of the report when
several voices cried. "Out we GO"
What will you do with the report" said Mr.
| Wilmington when he had finished its readi ug
| I'VE will 60 out" was the reply, in chorus.
After order had been restored it was unani-
| mousy agreed that the report be not accepted.
The following resolution twas then offered and
passed unanimously.
Resolved. That we, the iourneymen carpenters
| who are not employed with that have granted
what we ask, will quit work tomorrow morning.
1t was subsequently agreed that if any of the
| men were working for contractors who belong
to the Builders Exchange they should quit work.
even though the advance be granted There
| were great many short speeches and
many urged that every carpenter
| liz the city should quit work whether his wages
had been received or not Several machine men
| from the planning mills were present. and pledged
themselves to go out with the carpenters. Sup
pose" said one, that all the men don't quit
work to morrow morningf
| well go around and compel them to quit, y
was the answer. and if they won't we will boy
colt them
The men were instructed to visit all the shops
and buildings under way, this morning. and see
that goes to work. The meeting ad-
journsd to meet in the Circuit Court room to-
night
When the contractors wara po+;6ad Of Aha